Investing in a two-bedroom condo unit gives you enough space to experiment and create a homey sanctuary. Some of the perks include—bringing in furniture pieces you like, having an extra room for household chores, and carving out a special place for the little ones. If you've recently acquired the key to your new home, interior designer Maybelline Te shares a few handy hints. With Premiere Alliance Development Corp. as contractor, Maybelline transformed a two-bedroom unit into a charming family home. Take note of her tips below:

1. Use your interests and lifestyle as basis for the theme.

“The rose-gold metallic accents found in the furniture and decorative accessories allude to the wife’s jewelry-making business, while the leafy patterns and natural wood finishes are references to the husband’s hobby of nature photography,” says Maybelline.

IMAGE Erwin T. Lim

RL Tip: Create the feel of a tropical paradise by sprucing up the corners with indoor plants, wooden touches, and finishes that will remind guests of resorts.

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2. Take a break from all-white color schemes.

While white can make small spaces seem more airy and spacious, there are other colors you can look into. “I accented the unit with a soothing palette of Rose Quartz, Periwinkle, and Robin’s Egg Blue on a background of beige, taking off from Pantone’s [past] Colors of the Year,” she shares. The mix of hues in the unit help create a playful yet chic look.

IMAGE Erwin T. Lim

3. Experiment with different materials.

"Use layers of leather, different wood finishes, and a mix of patterned and solid-hued soft furnishings," says Maybelline. To create a luxurious tropical touch, the designer used a padded abaca wall in the living room for texture, stained various wood finishes for her furniture by General Bleu, and upholstered the bedroom doors in faux leather.

General Bleu offers fit-outs and furnishings. Follow them on Instagram for more details.

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4. Opt for a flexible layout.

Maybelline was able to define a space and open it up at the same time by getting creative with the layout of the unit. She bravely corralled the master bathroom in a glass enclosure with bold, black mullions. It opens up the small bathroom and adds architectural detail to the bedroom.

IMAGE Erwin T. Lim

5. Maximize the available vertical space.

To save floor area, go up. A custom-made bunk bed by General Bleu completes the children's room, creating space underneath for a play area. This flexible space can function as a study nook when the kids grow up, too.

IMAGE Erwin T. Lim

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6. Transform a plain and boring utility room with storage and color.

To make the two-bedroom home even more functional, the former maid's room was renovated into a mudroom completed with shelving units and a striking green wall. Instead of leaving the tiles plain, Maybelline worked with patterned machuka-style floor tiles from Architectural and Interior Source.

A snippet of this article originally appeared in the August 2016 issue of Real Living Magazine.